Scientists from Montana State University and European colleagues have made a breakthrough in understanding the sun's corona temperature. By analyzing data from the Japanese/US/UK space satellite Yohkoh, they found that magnetic field clashes likely cause the heating of giant loops of material above the sun's surface.
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey's unique telescope has achieved first light, demonstrating its capabilities to create a deep, high-resolution, multicolor digital map of the sky. The telescope will incorporate two spectrographs to provide information about the chemical composition and distances of celestial sources.
A computer network manager proposes using obsolete ICBMs to create spectacular pyrotechnic displays, releasing thousands of artificial meteors into the atmosphere with different colours depending on their chemicals. The plan aims to reuse Cold War relics for entertainment rather than scrap them.
Researchers found that at high temperatures, a phenomenon called the surface barrier slows down columns of dynamic magnetic fields, allowing current to flow along the edge. This discovery throws new light on superconductor properties and may lead to advanced materials with improved properties.
Scientists at Boston University report a new model of ventilator assisted lung function that incorporates 'noise' to improve gas exchange in patients with lung injury. The approach may also minimize additional trauma by enhancing the avalanche-like opening of airways and alveoli during inhalation.
In February, join the BirdSource Great '98 count to help scientists learn more about North American birds by counting bird species at your backyard feeders or local parks. The project provides instant feedback through graphics and animated maps.
Scientists use sensors to measure the intensity of vibrations at different frequencies, optimizing experiments for the US Microgravity Payload. By analyzing data from past missions, they can plan future ones more effectively and minimize disturbances.
Researchers from University of Wisconsin-Madison found that shifting tropical Atlantic monsoons and increased solar radiation led to a wetter Sahel region, driving vegetation growth and increasing rainfall. This study promises to improve computer models used for climate predictions.
Researchers at UNC-CH have discovered that carbon nanotubes can bend without breaking and then return to their original shape under large strains. The nanotubes' buckling behavior indicates potential for safer, stronger products, including those used in sports and aerospace materials.
Scientists described the three-dimensional structure and inner workings of a terpene synthase, a type of protein that synthesizes complex compounds including cholesterol. The findings provide groundwork for understanding how to regulate cholesterol creation in the body.
Recent satellite and in-situ measurements reveal no definitive warming trend in the tropical free troposphere over the past two decades. The low humidity in this region allows more infrared radiation to escape from the Earth, cooling the atmosphere. Current computer models inaccurately handle humidity processes in this region.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated intersubband stimulated emission in an actual device structure, showing the potential for a tunable, mid-infrared solid-state laser. The new design is simpler and more efficient than previous concepts, with the ability to be tuned to specific wavelengths.
Purdue University scientists have developed a method to trap and study ions on surfaces, providing a new way to alter materials at the nanoscale level. The technique uses molecular ions that can be selected based on mass, allowing for reversible surface modification and preserving the ions.
Astronomers use BATSE to detect four rare cosmic gamma-ray bursts, sparking debate about their origin and distance. The events appeared in rapid succession over two days from the same general position in the sky.
A multidisciplinary team is building an experimental facility to test the effects of combined ozone and carbon dioxide on forest stands. The project aims to understand how trees will respond to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide in conjunction with other pollutants, such as tropospheric ozone.
Sandia scientists have improved portable computer display screens using phosphor luminescence, which can reduce power consumption and improve performance. The new technology can operate at low voltage and is expected to outperform liquid crystal displays in various applications.
Researchers at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory found that the Earth's inner core is rotating faster than the planet, completing its once-a-day rotation about two-thirds of a second faster than the entire Earth. The discovery was made by measuring changes in seismic wave speeds through the inner core.
The NCAR research program is testing a new cloud-seeding technique using pyrotechnic flares to enhance rainfall in drought-stricken Coahuila, Mexico. The technique has shown promising results in South Africa and Arizona, but its effectiveness remains uncertain.